Pepper hybrid SV6420PB

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and theinbred pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated SV6420PB, the pepper line SBR-E711415, or pepper lineSBRE713-0526. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SV6420PBand/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and/orpepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and/orpepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526. The pepper seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper seed of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415and SBRE713-0526. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 maybe defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including atleast about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper plants designated SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 andSBRE713-0526.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper linesSBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid SV6420PBand/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 include those traitsset forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridSV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SBR-E711415 or pepper lineSBRE713-0526. These processes may be further exemplified as processesfor preparing hybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plantis crossed with a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotypeto provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepperline SBR-E711415 or pepper line SBRE713-0526. In these processes,crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed productionoccurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepperlines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526. In one embodiment of the invention,pepper seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁)hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordancewith the invention with another, distinct plant. The present inventionfurther contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid pepper plant, andmethods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of theinvention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper linesSBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepperlines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415and SBRE713-0526 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid SV6420PB and/orpepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526. The plant derived from hybridSV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 may be aninbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 isobtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybridas well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to theaggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid SV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415and SBRE713-0526 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds, and derivatives of pepper hybrid SV6420PB, pepper lineSBR-E711415, and pepper line SBRE713-0526.

Pepper hybrid SV6420PB, also known as “12-HJ-BLK-4050,” is a sweet bellpepper that develops into a medium-large sized, anthocyaninless plantthat produces uniform, smooth, very large fruit maturing from amedium-dark green to red and having a bell pepper shape. The blockyfruit generally expresses a length-to-diameter (LD) ratio greater thanor equal to one. The hybrid sets fruit in a semi-concentrated mannerwith a set distribution similar to the commercial hybrid PS-9928302.Hybrid SV6420PB is resistant to bacterial leaf spot (BLS) races 0through 10, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv 0-10),Tobamo virus pathotype P0 (Tm0), and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV).The hybrid is intended for open field production throughout thesoutheastern US and has also performed well in Ohio and North Carolina.Trial results suggest the hybrid may be well adapted to productionthroughout the southeastern US region, and may do well in Georgiabecause of the resistance to TSWV. The main use of this hybrid would bein areas that could be affected by Xcv 0-10. Currently races 4 and 6 ofXcv severely limit production in certain areas of the southeastern US,particularly Georgia and Florida. Without resistance to Xcv 0-10, it maybe impossible to prevent heavy infection under environmental conditionsthat favor BLS.

Parent line SBR-E711415 is an anthocyaninless line that develops into amedium-small plant and produces a rather concentrated set of firm, darkgreen colored fruit that mature to red. The medium-large fruit typicallyexpress a length-to-diameter (LD) ratio near one with a preponderance offour-lobed shapes. The line is resistant to the bacterial leaf spotraces 0 through 10 caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria(Xcv; bs₅ gene) and the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). It is believedthat the most similar commercial variety to Line SBR-E711415 is thevariety Early California Wonder. The characteristics that best describethe differences between the two include, but may not be limited to, lineSBR-E711415 having resistance to races 0 through 10 of Xcv (conferred bythe bs₅ gene), while Early California Wonder lacks this gene and issusceptible; line SBR-E711415 being anthocyaninless, while EarlyCalifornia Wonder expresses anthocyanin in its fruit and stem; and lineSBR-E711415 having resistance to TSWV, while Early California Wonder issusceptible to TSWV.

Parent line SBRE713-0526 is an anthocyaninless line that develops amedium to large plant with good leaf cover and produces a moderate setof smooth, firm, blocky green colored fruit that mature to red. Thelarge fruit typically express an LD ratio near one with a preponderanceof four-lobed shapes. The line is resistant to Tobacco mosaic viruspathotype P0, and the bacterial leaf spot races 0 through 10 caused byXanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv; bs₅ gene). It is believedthat the most similar commercial variety to parent line SBRE713-0526 isEarly California Wonder. The characteristics that best describe thedifferences between the two include, but may not be limited to, lineSBRE713-0526 having resistance to races 0 through 10 of Xcv (conferredby the bs₅ gene), while Early California Wonder lacks this gene and issusceptible; line SBRE713-0526 being anthocyaninless, while EarlyCalifornia Wonder expresses anthocyanin in its fruit and stem; and lineSBRE713-0526 having resistance to Tm0, while Early California Wonder issusceptible to Tm0.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid SV6420PB

The parents of hybrid SV6420PB are SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526. Theparent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom.A small percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptablelimits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper HybridSV6420PB, Pepper Line SBR-E711415, and Pepper Line SBRE713-0526

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and the parent lines thereof.A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofsuch plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridSV6420PB SV6420PB(12-HJ- Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC BLK-4050)Early Cal Wonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in regionof best adaptability) days from transplanting until 52 61   mature greenstage days from transplanting until 79 80   mature red or yellow stagedays from direct seeding until 97 106    mature green stage days fromdirect seeding until 123  125    mature red or yellow stage Seedling:anthocyanin coloration of absent moderate hypocotyl 3. Plant habitcompact compact attitude upright/erect upright/erect plant height(immature/green 64.46 cm 60.7 cm fruit) plant height (mature fruit)103.66 cm 77.5 cm plant width (immature/green 52.5 cm 54.6 cm fruit)plant width (mature fruit) 74.73 cm 63.3 cm length of stem fromcotyledon 15.73 cm 12.5 cm to first flower length of the third internode75 mm 62.0 mm (from soil surface) length of stem long long shortenedinternode (in upper present absent part) number of internodes betweenone to three — the first flower and the shortened internodes plant:length of internode (on — short primary side shoots) stem: hairiness ofnodes absent or very weak absent or very weak height very tall tallbasal branches none none branch flexibility willowy willowy stemstrength (breakage intermediate weak resistance) 4. Leaf length of bladelong long width of blade broad medium width 86.8 mm 68.9 mm length156.26 mm 150.4 mm petiole length 76.86 mm 61.7 mm color dark green darkgreen color (RHS Colour Chart value) 147A 147A intensity of green colordark dark mature leaf shape ovate ovate leaf and stem pubescence absentabsent undulation of margin strong medium blistering strong mediumprofile in cross section moderately concave moderately concaveglossiness strong strong 5. Flower peduncle: attitude semi-droopingerect flowers per leaf axil  1 1   calyx lobes    6.06 6.5 petals   6.46 6.7 diameter 24.46 mm 26.7 mm corolla color white white corollathroat markings white white anther color yellow purple style length lessthan stamen less than stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruitgroup Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (beforematurity) green green intensity of color (before dark medium maturity)immature fruit color dark green medium green immature fruit color (RHS144A 144A Colour Chart value) attitude/position drooping/pendenthorizontal length medium medium diameter very broad broad ratiolength/diameter very small small calyx diameter 31.4 mm 28.8 mm fruitlength 71 mm 68.5 mm fruit diameter at calyx 86.05 mm 72.2 mm attachmentfruit diameter at mid-point 89.25 mm 73.5 mm flesh thickness atmid-point 10.23 mm 4.4 mm fruit shape (longitudinal square squaresection) fruit shape (cross section, at quad-rangular quad-rangularlevel of placenta) sinuation of pericarp at basal weak weak partsinuation of pericarp excluding weak weak basal part texture of surfacesmooth or very slightly smooth or very slightly wrinkled wrinkledsurface smoothness smooth smooth color (at maturity) red red intensityof color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruit color red red mature fruitcolor (RHS Colour N34A  46A Chart value) glossiness strong medium stalkcavity present present depth of stalk cavity very deep deep pedicellength 50 mm 26.3 mm pedicel thickness 9.49 mm 7.6 mm pedicel shapecurved straight pedicel cavity present present depth of pedicel cavity18.46 mm 7.4 mm stalk: length very long medium stalk: thickness mediummedium base shape cupped cupped apex shape blunt blunt shape of apexvery depressed very depressed shape Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (YoloWonder L.) set concentrated scattered depth of interloculary groovesmedium deep number of locules equally three and four predominantly fourand more % fruits with one locule  0% 0% % fruits with two locules  0%0% % fruits with three locules 40% 33.30%    % fruits with four locules47% 60%  % fruits with five or more 13% 6.70%   locules average numberof locules    3.73 3.7 thickness of flesh very thick medium calyx:aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/ saucer-shaped saucer-shapedpungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent absent flavor strongpepper flavor strong pepper flavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seedcavity length 64.13 mm 58.2 mm seed cavity diameter 81.26 mm 61.1 mmplacenta length 31 mm 27.1 mm number of seeds per fruit   144.73 118.2 grams per 1000 seeds 8.0 gm 6.0 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanincoloration of: stem absent weak nodes absent moderate intensity ofanthocyanin — medium coloration of nodes leaf absent weak pedicel absentabsent calyx absent absent anther absent present anthocyanin colorationabsent absent beginning of flowering (1^(st) medium medium flower on2^(nd) flowering node) time of maturity early early *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSBR-E711415 Line Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC SBR-E711415 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 63 60   mature green stagedays from transplanting until 92 85   mature red or yellow stage daysfrom direct seeding until 105  99   mature green stage days from directseeding until 134  124    mature red or yellow stage Seedling:anthocyanin coloration of absent absent hypocotyl 3. Plant habit compactcompact attitude upright/erect upright/erect plant height 46.75 cm 47.2cm plant width 43.8 cm 47.3 cm length of stem from cotyledon 17.78 cm15.9 cm to first flower length of the third internode 114.65 mm 88.9 mm(from soil surface) length of stem medium medium shortened internode (inupper present present part) number of internodes between more than threeone to three the first flower and the shortened internodes stem:hairiness of nodes weak weak height medium medium basal branches nonenone branch flexibility willowy willowy stem strength (breakage strongintermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade medium long width ofblade medium medium width 62.4 mm 70.6 mm length 114.35 mm 136.6 mmpetiole length 55.6 mm 64.5 mm color dark green dark green color (RHSColour Chart value) 137A 137A intensity of green color dark dark matureleaf shape lanceolate lanceolate leaf and stem pubescence absent lightundulation of margin medium medium blistering strong weak profile incross section moderately concave moderately concave glossiness mediumvery weak 5. Flower peduncle: attitude semi-drooping erect flowers perleaf axil  1 1   calyx lobes    6.85 6.6 petals   7.3 6.8 diameter 28.4mm 28.2 mm corolla color white white corolla throat markings yellowyellow anther color yellow purple style length same as stamen exceedsstamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group Bell (YoloWonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green greenintensity of color (before dark medium maturity) immature fruit colordark green medium green immature fruit color (RHS 144A 144A Colour Chartvalue) attitude/position drooping/pendent drooping/pendent length longlong diameter medium medium ratio length/diameter small small calyxdiameter 34.56 mm 32.8 mm fruit length 80.11 mm 76.8 mm fruit diameterat calyx 81.09 mm 76.7 mm attachment fruit diameter at mid-point 86.68mm 82.7 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 5.605 mm 5.5 mm fruit shape(longitudinal square square section) fruit shape (cross section, atcircular quad-rangular level of placenta) sinuation of pericarp at basalweak weak part sinuation of pericarp excluding weak weak basal parttexture of surface smooth or very slightly slightly wrinkled wrinkledsurface smoothness smooth smooth color (at maturity) red red intensityof color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruit color red red mature fruitcolor (RHS Colour N34A  45A Chart value) glossiness strong very strongstalk cavity present present depth of stalk cavity medium medium pedicellength 47.4 mm 31.2 mm pedicel thickness 9.375 mm 8.7 mm pedicel shapecurved straight pedicel cavity present present depth of pedicel cavity19.985 mm 18.1 mm stalk: length long medium stalk: thickness thick thickbase shape cupped cupped apex shape blunt blunt shape of apex moderatelydepressed moderately depressed shape Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (YoloWonder L.) set concentrated concentrated depth of interloculary groovesdeep deep number of locules predominantly four and predominantly fourand more more % fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits with two locules0% 0% % fruits with three locules 30.00%    30.00%    % fruits with fourlocules 70.00%    67%  % fruits with five or more 0% 3% locules averagenumber of locules    3.665 3.7 thickness of flesh medium medium calyx:aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/ saucer-shaped saucer-shapedpungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent absent flavor strongpepper flavor strong pepper flavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seedcavity length 66.71 mm 57.6 mm seed cavity diameter 78.61 mm 66.4 mmplacenta length 34.58 mm 30.9 mm number of seeds per fruit   184.35127.1  grams per 1000 seeds 6.135 gm 6.1 gm color yellow yellow 8.Anthocyanin coloration of: stem absent absent nodes weak moderateintensity of anthocyanin weak medium coloration of nodes leaf absentabsent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absent anther absent presentanthocyanin coloration absent absent beginning of flowering (1^(st)medium early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) time of maturity mediummedium *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment.Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scopeof the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSBRE713-0526 Line Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC SBRE713-0526 EarlyCal Wonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 59 61   mature green stagedays from transplanting until 86 80   mature red or yellow stage daysfrom direct seeding until 104  106    mature green stage days fromdirect seeding until 131  125    mature red or yellow stage Seedling:anthocyanin coloration of absent moderate hypocotyl 3. Plant habitcompact compact attitude upright/erect upright/erect plant height(immature/green 67.06 cm 60.7 cm fruit) plant height (mature fruit)109.2 cm 77.5 cm plant width (immature/green 50.53 cm 54.6 cm fruit)plant width (mature fruit) 68.43 cm 63.3 cm length of stem fromcotyledon 15.06 cm 12.5 cm to first flower length of the third internode87.53 mm 62.0 mm (from soil surface) length of stem long long shortenedinternode (in upper present absent part) number of internodes betweenone to three — the first flower and the shortened internodes plant:length of internode (on — short primary side shoots) stem: hairiness ofnodes absent or very weak absent or very weak height very tall tallbasal branches none none branch flexibility willowy willowy stemstrength (breakage strong weak resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade longlong width of blade broad medium width 81.8 mm 68.9 mm length 147.33 mm150.4 mm petiole length 56.26 mm 61.7 mm color dark green dark greencolor (RHS Colour Chart value) 147A 147A intensity of green color darkdark mature leaf shape ovate ovate leaf and stem pubescence absentabsent undulation of margin medium medium blistering strong mediumprofile in cross section moderately concave moderately concaveglossiness strong strong 5. Flower peduncle: attitude semi-droopingerect flowers per leaf axil  1 1   calyx lobes   6.6 6.5 petals   6.66.7 diameter 27.93 mm 26.7 mm corolla color white white corolla throatmarkings white white anther color yellow purple style length same asstamen less than stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruitgroup Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (beforematurity) green green intensity of color (before dark medium maturity)immature fruit color dark green medium green immature fruit color (RHS147A 144A Colour Chart value) attitude/position drooping/pendenthorizontal length medium medium diameter very broad broad ratiolength/diameter small small calyx diameter 35.03 mm 28.8 mm fruit length71.01 mm 68.5 mm fruit diameter at calyx 85.58 mm 72.2 mm attachmentfruit diameter at mid-point 92.68 mm 73.5 mm flesh thickness atmid-point 5.46 mm 4.4 mm fruit shape (longitudinal square squaresection) fruit shape (cross section, at circular quad-rangular level ofplacenta) sinuation of pericarp at basal weak weak part sinuation ofpericarp excluding absent or very weak weak basal part texture ofsurface smooth or very slightly smooth or very slightly wrinkledwrinkled surface smoothness smooth smooth color (at maturity) red redintensity of color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruit color red redmature fruit color (RHS Colour  46A  46A Chart value) glossiness strongmedium stalk cavity present present depth of stalk cavity deep deeppedicel length 54.8 mm 26.3 mm pedicel thickness 10.28 mm 7.6 mm pedicelshape curved straight pedicel cavity present present depth of pedicelcavity 10.68 mm 7.4 mm stalk: length very long medium stalk: thicknessmedium medium base shape cupped cupped apex shape blunt blunt shape ofapex moderately depressed very depressed shape Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) set concentrated scattered depth of interlocularygrooves deep deep number of locules equally three and four predominantlyfour and more % fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits with two locules0% 0% % fruits with three locules 40%  33.30%    % fruits with fourlocules 53%  60%  % fruits with five or more 7% 6.70%   locules averagenumber of locules    3.66 3.7 thickness of flesh medium medium calyx:aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/ saucer-shaped saucer-shapedpungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent absent flavor strongpepper flavor strong pepper flavor glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seedcavity length 52.06 mm 58.2 mm seed cavity diameter 73.66 mm 61.1 mmplacenta length 25.26 mm 27.1 mm number of seeds per fruit   85.8 118.2 grams per 1000 seeds 10.0 gm 6.0 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanincoloration of: stem absent weak nodes absent moderate intensity ofanthocyanin — medium coloration of nodes leaf absent weak pedicel absentabsent calyx absent absent anther absent present anthocyanin colorationabsent absent beginning of flowering (1^(st) medium medium flower on2^(nd) flowering node) time of maturity medium early *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid SV6420PB involving crossing pepper lines SBR-E711415and SBRE713-0526. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid SV6420PB, line SBR-E711415, or line SBRE713-0526 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid SV6420PB and/or the pepper lines SBR-E711415 andSBRE713-0526, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid SV6420PB and/or the pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526.Plants derived from hybrid SV6420PB and/or the pepper lines SBR-E711415and SBRE713-0526 may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid SV6420PB followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g., colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may begrown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. Ineither case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance withthe invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with aplant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withSV6420PB and/or pepper lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 for thepurpose of developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofpepper plants developed by this invention.

D. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

E. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

F. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour chart value: The RHS ColourChart is a standardized reference which allows accurate identificationof any color. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue,brightness and saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS ColourChart by identifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g.,Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation.

G. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid SV6420PB and inbred parent lines SBR-E711415and SBRE713-0526, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has beenmade with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit for hybrid SV6420PBand inbred parent lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 was Jul. 18, 2016.The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of pepper hybridSV6420PB and inbred parent lines SBR-E711415 and SBRE713-0526 are ATCCAccession No. PTA-123320, ATCC Accession No. PTA-123318, and ATCCAccession No. PTA-123321, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SBRE713-0526, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-123321.
 2. Apepper seed that produces the plant of claim
 1. 3. The plant of claim 1,which is an inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.
 5. Theseed of claim 2, which is an inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which is ahybrid.
 7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is pepperhybrid SV6420PB, a sample of seed of said hybrid SV6420PB having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-123320.
 8. The seed of claim6, defined as a seed of pepper hybrid SV6420PB, a sample of seed of saidhybrid SV6420PB having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-123320.
 9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed of lineSBRE713-0526.
 10. A plant part of the plant of claim
 1. 11. The plantpart of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, an ovule, pollen, a fruit,or a cell.
 12. A pepper plant having all the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the pepper plant of claim
 7. 13. Atissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 14. Thetissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cells or protoplastsfrom a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos,meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,pistil, flower, seed, and stalks, wherein said cells or protoplastscomprise at least a first set of the chromosomes of said pepper lineSBRE713-0526.
 15. A pepper plant regenerated from the tissue culture ofclaim 13, wherein said plant has all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SBRE713-0526, a sample of seed of saidline having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-123321.
 16. Amethod of vegetatively propagating the pepper plant of claim 1comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of beingpropagated from the plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating saidtissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferatedshoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising growing at least a first pepper plant from said rootedplantlets.
 18. A method of introducing a desired trait into a pepperline comprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrent parent a plant of pepperline SBRE713-0526, by crossing a plant of pepper line SBRE713-0526 witha second donor pepper plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1progeny, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-123321; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprisesthe desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plantof the same pepper line used as the recurrent parent in step (a), toproduce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprisingthe desired trait and the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line used in step (a);and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produceselected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise the desiredtrait, and otherwise comprise essentially all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of the recurrent parent pepper line usedin step (a).
 19. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim
 18. 20.A method of producing a pepper plant comprising an added trait, themethod comprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into aplant of claim
 1. 21. A pepper plant produced by the method of claim 20.22. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes ofpepper line SBRE713-0526, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-123321; further comprising atransgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgene confers atrait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. A pepperplant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper lineSBRE713-0526, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-123321; further comprising a single locusconversion.
 25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locusconversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 26. A method for producing a seed of a pepper plant derivedfrom at least one of pepper hybrid SV6420PB or pepper line SBRE713-0526comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a pepper plant of hybrid SV6420PBor line SBRE713-0526 with itself or a second pepper plant; a sample ofseed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-123320 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123321, respectively;and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid SV6420PB- or line SBRE713-0526-derivedpepper plant to form.
 27. A method of producing a seed of a hybridSV6420PB or line SBRE713-0526-derived pepper plant comprising the stepsof: (a) producing a hybrid SV6420PB- or line SBRE713-0526-derived pepperplant from a seed produced by crossing a pepper plant of hybrid SV6420PBor line SBRE713-0526 with itself or a second pepper plant, a sample ofseed of said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-123320 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-123321, respectively;and (b) crossing the hybrid SV6420PB or line SBRE713-0526-derived pepperplant with itself or a different pepper plant to obtain a seed of afurther hybrid SV6420PB- or line SBRE713-0526-derived pepper plant. 28.The method of claim 27, further comprising repeating said producing andcrossing steps of (a) and (b) using a seed from said step (b) forproducing a plant according to step (a) for at least one generation toproduce a seed of an additional hybrid SV6420PB or lineSBRE713-0526-derived pepper plant.
 29. A plant part of the plant ofclaim
 7. 30. The plant part of claim 29, further defined as a leaf, aflower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 31. A method of producinga pepper seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or asecond pepper plant and allowing seed to form.
 32. A method of producinga pepper fruit comprising: (a) obtaining the plant according to claim 1,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting apepper from the plant.